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I had a recurring pain in the middle of my back for years. I had seen a lot of other practitioners for this but at best only ever recieved temporary relief from their treatment. Then I saw David. My back feels great and still does.

Colin, Brisbane

Having received a rugby injury to my knee in my 20s, severe arthritis changes in my neck and a more recent deterioration of a hip, I have met with numerous physiotherapists over the years.

When I started seeing David Wadsworth approximately 4 years ago what impressed me was his immediate understanding of my situation, his knowledge and his level of skills that I had not experienced before. With David's hands-on approach, and an emphasis on ongoing maintenance, I had no hesitation in following him as a client to his new practice, Chronic Pain Solutions.

The outcome of David's ongoing treatment and advice has enabled me to enjoy a reasonably active lifestyle and a positive view of the future.

John, Brisbane

APPROACH TO CHRONIC PROBLEMS

We have a unique approach to treating chronic problems, which incorporates many different skills acquired through David's extensive local and overseas training.

What does chronic mean? Chronic problems are those that have been present for some time and won't go away by themselves. The severity of your problems may wax and wane over time, but basically the problem(s) never really disappears for good.

Our approach to such problems is always based on identifying & eliminating the CAUSES of your symptoms - rarely do we aim to treat symptoms themselves as they will almost always recur if the causes aren't eliminated.

It is important to note that most chronic problems are multifactorial in nature, meaning that there is usually more than one cause. Most of the time the causes of your problem are not located in the same place as your pain. Another way of saying this is to say that "pain is a liar" - it rarely tells us exactly where the causes of your pain are. This means that we need to carefully analyse the entire body to identify the full range of contributing factors to your problem(s), and then develop a plan to address all of the different causes.

To do this properly, on the initial consultation a thorough history is taken & is considered a vital part of the consultation process. Up to 80% of the information required to make an accurate & complete diagnosis can in many cases be made by taking a thorough history of your problems, which in the long run saves time & helps to prevent misdiagnosis.

A thorough examination follows, in which all of the body's systems are carefully reviewed and related to your symptoms. This includes review of the:

• Musculoskeletal system (spine, pelvis, limbs)
• Cardiopulmonary system (heart, lungs, blood vessels)
• Gastrointestinal system (digestive organs, bowels, stomach)
• Genitourinary system (bladders, kidneys)
• Endocrine system (glands, hormones, stress)
• Cranial system (bones & nerves of the skull)
• Mental / Emotional System (your feelings & reactions to the problems)

Many times the causes of your symptoms may involve multiple systems of the body, so treating only the musculoskeletal system may result in a suboptimal result. As an example, it is quite common for the gastrointestinal system to cause back pain. Most people who have received a diagnosis of "irritable bowel syndrome" also have back (or neck) pain. Thus to alleviate back pain in such cases identifying & treating the cause (in the gastrointestinal system) is often necessary.

After a history & examination has been performed, David will carefully explain the causes of your symptoms, & then develop a plan with you to eliminate the causes of your problems. At all times we aim to address the different causes in the order which is most likely to result in the fastest recovery & produce a long-lasting effect.

Treatment may involve specific, gentle manual therapy to restore the normal function of each area of the body. Education will always be offered as to how you can help to prevent the problem(s) recurring. Where appropriate, specific therapeutic exercises may be offered, again with the aim of eliminating the causes of symptoms, preventing recurrence and enabling you to live with fewer health problems on a day to day basis.

You will always have the opportunity to set your own goals from treatment, to ask questions & to contribute to the treatment process. We believe that treatment is an active process that involves the patient just as much as the practitioner; it is not a passive experience where the practitioner simply does something to the patient to make them feel better. We believe that the patient is actively involved in their own healing, and that being actively involved improves the overall result.